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≡ USATF CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
The latest U.S. national championships since 1968 for the women and 1930 (!) for the men gets going on Thursday in Eugene, Oregon, selecting the American team for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (JPN) in September.
The meet is also historic as the first nationals to be combined for Olympic and Paralympic events, competing at the same place on the same days:
Thursday, 31 July:
● 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Decathlon-heptathlon
● 10:40 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Paralympic events
● 1:20 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Javelin/men and Hammer/women
● 3:00 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.: Olympic events
Friday, 1 August:
● 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Paralympic events
● 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Decathlon-heptathlon
● 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Olympic events
● 6:12 p.m. to 6:50 p.m.: Paralympic events
● 6:52 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Olympic events
Saturday, 2 August:
● 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.: 20 km Walks
● 9:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Paralympic events
● 11:20 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.: Discus/men
● 12:05 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Olympic events
● 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Olympic & Paralympic events
Sunday, 3 August:
● 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.: Masters exhibitions
● 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Olympic events
The meet has plenty of stars, including 13 athletes who are the world (outdoor) leaders in their events:
Men (5):
● 200 m: 19.73, T’Mars McCallum
● 110 m hurdles: 12.87, Cordell Tinch
● 400 m hurdles: 46.54, Rai Benjamin
● Shot Put: 22.48 m (73-9), Joe Kovacs
● Hammer: 83.16 m (272-10), Rudy Winkler
Women (8):
● 100 m: 10.73, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden
● 100 m hurdles: 12.17, Masai Russell
● Pole Vault: 4.83 m (15-10), Katie Moon
● Long Jump: 7.07 m (23-2 1/2), Tara Davis-Woodhall
● Shot Put: 20.95 m (68-8 3/4), Chase Jackson
● Discus: 73.52 m (241-2), Valarie Allman
● Hammer: 79.29 m (260-1), Brooke Andersen
● Heptathlon: 7,032, Anna Hall
The U.S. also has defending (2023) world champions in multiple events, all of whom have a direct entry into the 2025 Worlds, but are competing in Eugene:
● Men/100 m: Noah Lyles
● Men/200 m: Noah Lyles
● Men/110 m hurdles: Grant Holloway
● Women/100 m: Sha’Carri Richardson
● Women/Pole Vault: Katie Moon
● Women/Shot Put: Chase Jackson
● Women/Discus: Lagi Tausaga
Men’s shot star Ryan Crouser, still recovering from an elbow injury, won in 2023, but is not entered. Heptathlete Michelle Atherley also has a direct Worlds entry from winning the World Athletics combined events tour.
Beyond all these folks is women’s 400 m hurdles superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the world-record holder and Olympic champion, who is contesting the 400 m this year. She’s run 49.43 so far and is expected to challenge the U.S. 400 m record of 48.70 by Sanya Richards-Ross from 2006.
One star who is not competing is men’s 2022 World 100 m champion Fred Kerley, who has been in trouble with law enforcement this year and posted:
“The 100m should be a straight sprint. 2025 has presented many hurdles. Taking some time out to get back on track. No USATF Champs this year. Thanks to all my supporters.”
A highlight of the Olympic and Paralympic events together will be Olympic women’s long jump champ Davis-Woodhall competing in the same meet as husband Hunter Woodhall, the Paris Paralympic men’s T62 400 m gold medalist.
The first two days of the meet are only on the subscription USATF.tv streaming platform; NBC has coverage on Saturday and Sunday from 4-6 p.m. Eastern and Peacock has extended Saturday coverage to 7 p.m. Eastern.
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